Shenali D Waduge It is advised that people should not be too mesmerized by the word independent”. Who can be independent in this interlinked world. Even decisions in the halls of the UN end up determined by a simple threatening phone call. The arm-twisting methods used would shock most. When Funding/AID is tied to numerous […]

Sugath Kulatunga The Constitution of the country provides for the appointment of a Secretary for each Ministry,who is empowered to exercise supervision over the departments of Government or other institutions in the charge of his Minister.vide the following Articles of the Constitution. 52. (1) There shall be for each Ministry a Secretary who shall be […]

e-Con e-News The Sunday Times asked the question above of the much-promoted Shanta Devarajan, ‘Professor of the Practice of International Development at the Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University, US, advisor to the Government of Sri Lanka on the International Monetary Fund (IMF).’ ‘No comment,’ replies the much-promoted and seemingly mired professor. • What is the relationship between […]

Courtesy RTHK Sri Lanka’s president said on Tuesday that China had agreed to restructure its loans to the bankrupt island nation, clearing the final obstacle to a long-awaited International Monetary Fund bailout. An unprecedented economic crisis has seen Sri Lanka’s 22 million people suffer acute food, fuel and medicine shortages, along with extended blackouts and […]

By Shivanthi ranasinghe Courtesy Ceylon Today Earlier this year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe pledged to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (13A) in full. Currently, it is in effect except for Police and land powers (granted partially), which are still exercised by the Central Government. This was a surprise announcement made on 15.01.2023 during the National […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island CIA Chief’s cloak-and-dagger visit: Pivuthuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader, Udaya Gammanpila, MP, yesterday (06) said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government and the US embassy in Colombo should come clean on CIA Director William Joseph Burns’ Colombo visit. The former Power and Energy Minister said so in response to The Island query whether the […]

Courtesy Adaderana The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has welcomed the progress made by the Sri Lankan authorities in taking decisive policy actions and obtaining financial assurances from all major creditors including China, India and the Paris Club. In a statement, Kristalina Georgieva said she looks forward to presenting the IMG-supported program […]

Courtesy Adaderana The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday said Sri Lanka has secured financing assurances from all major bilateral creditors, paving the way for the IMF board to consider approval of a long-awaited $2.9 billion four-year bailout agreed last year. The IMF said its board will meet on March 20 to review a preliminary staff-level […]

Courtesy Adaderana The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has increased by nearly 200 points during today’s (07 March) trading.  Accordingly, the ASPI increased by 198.02 points (2.10%) to close at 9,642.94 after today’s trading.  This is also the highest close of the index for the year so far, after […]

Courtesy Adaderana The Election Commission has deemed April 25 as the ‘most suitable’ date to hold the 2023 Local Government polls. The election body informed the Returning Officers that the local government election cannot be conducted on March 09 as scheduled due to unexpected and unavoidable reasons” pertaining to the printing of ballot papers. In […]

Courtesy Adaderana The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) has appreciated further against the US dollar (USD) today (07 March) as the buying rate reached Rs. 318.30 and the selling rate recorded Rs. 335.75.  At the same time, the Middle Rate of the USD/ LKR SPOT Exchange Rate was recorded at Rs. 337.66. The Sri Lankan Rupee […]